Good morning, Chennai!
☀️ Today’s weather: Sunny and clear skies for today.
🧐 Did you know? Chennai will be home to Standard Chartered Global Business Services’ (GBS) largest office campus globally at the DLF Downtown project at Taramani. It will cover 1 million square feet with experimental offices and an open workspace.
🛣️ Parking and traffic at Pondy Bazaar
The Corporation and police’s inefficiencies are laid bare with the situation at Pondy Bazaar.
What’s it about? The traffic and parking issues at Pondy Bazaar persist with violations and people parking vehicles in front of the bus stand. Despite barricades placed in front of the stand, road violations continue with no intervention by the police.
- In March, the Chennai Corporation submitted a proposal to the government to tow vehicles parked in non-parking spaces for more than ten hours.
- The public doesn’t follow the traffic and parking regulations. Two-wheelers are parked on the pavement. Cars and autos parked on the road cause traffic congestion.
Who said what? A Corporation staff member said most cars that violate rules belong to political parties, and they rarely respond when questioned. One suggested traffic personnel are needed given how crowded the location is.
🚙 SUV sales high
Sales of SUVs in Chennai are higher than the all-India numbers.
What’s it about? The latest data from JATO Dynamics showed SUVs made up 47% of all passenger vehicle sales sold in Chennai during 2022-23, with over 35,000 units. The national average is just over 43%.
- The Hyundai Creta, manufactured in Tamil Nadu, is the most popular in Chennai with over 9% of total sales, followed by the Kia Seltos and Tata Nexon with 8.9% and 8.8%, respectively.
- Car markets feel that higher SUV sales and the shrinking of the entry-level hatchback are signs of high-end cars selling better. Also, the cost of living pressures has impacted value-conscious customers.
Who said what? JATO Dynamics President Ravi Bhatia said Chennai had seen a strong surge in SUV sales. It’s part of a broader trend in India as people prefer their larger size with comfort and convenience. Manish Raj Singhania of the Federation of Automobile Dealers Association (FADA) said the entry-level market is currently under pressure.
🚇 Redesigned metro station
The upcoming Panagal Park station design has been altered to facilitate planting trees.
What’s it about? Chennai Metro has changed the design of the Panagal Park metro in T Nagar to leave 5 metres of thick soil to plant deep-rooted trees. The change has also saved 26 trees from being cut, including a few tall indigenous species in the park. Previously, the Metro was criticised for cutting 221 trees at Thiru Vi Ka Park for the Shenoy Nagar station.
- At T Nagar, part of the station is under the park, the only green space in the locality. The new design with a 5-metre thick soil gap across the entire park was based on Tamil Nadu Forest Department’s recommendations.
- 150 of the 650 trees were identified to be cut. After the redesign, 93 were cut. 25 were translocated, including a few species like the Mangifera indica (a mango tree) and the Syzygium cumini (a jamun tree).
Who said what? Metro spokesperson L Girirajan said they couldn’t save the trees within the D-wall or peripheral walls of the station, but those on the outside would be left alone. Environmentalist and member of the Tamil Nadu Biodiversity Board D Narasimhan said the underground station should be built to withstand the weight of the trees above.
💪 Fitness Expo
The Fitness, Nutrition & Sports India (FNSI) Expo will showcase the latest from the fitness and wellness industry.
What’s it about? City-based Sai Solutions had its first major show, the Pro Wave Expo, for the sound and light industry. Now, it has brought together the biggest players in the fitness industry for the upcoming B2B expo in May. It’s a project that began before the pandemic. The company believes it’s a good time for the fitness and wellness market.
- The expo will have at least 80 stalls with over 150 brands from India. There’ll also be several activities, with the main attraction being the Ultimate Bodybuilding Championship, an open tournament.
- Nutrition companies who participate will be giving away free samples. Each company will have short promotions on the stage, and companies will hold small competitions with prize giveaways.
Motivations: Sai Vigneshwar, one of Sai Solution’s directors, said the fitness market has expanded in the past year, and the expo will be a place where people can get what they’re looking for. He said the range of products on display would give people plenty of choices.
Details: The expo will be at the Chennai Trade Centre from May 5-7.
✨ Things to do…
Here are some fun and interesting things to do in the city over the weekend!
- Rollinbeat, the indie music band founded by Revathy and Benji JB, will perform live with others this Sunday.
- Ashwin Srinivas Live, presented by Chai Kings Studio, is a standup comedy show happening this Saturday.
- At Moving Beats, learn to move at your own pace with therapeutic dance this Sunday.
- Malhar is part of Chennai Art Theatre’s Theatre Binge Edition V, happening this Saturday.
- IPL Quiz Night is this Saturday for the Mumbai vs Chennai match.
🛋️ Local Lounge
Yesterday’s Poll Results:
- I have paid a traffic violation fine: 12.5%
- I haven’t paid a traffic violation fine: 87.5% 🏆
That’s it for today. Have a great weekend!